The money doesn't have to be associated with WINNING, it can be associated with PLAYING THE GAME... i.e. sponsors could contribute money to the UKUA/TDs, which could be used to bring down entry fees for teams/players, rather than as a prize pot.
Sure, for the larger teams, £10 player fee each for a weekend seems minimal, but what if you DIDN'T have to pay to play... Why? because "Food & Drink Corp." paid enough money to cover hiring the fields, etc. Why? for the privilege of having banners bearing their name appearing in the background of all our photos/footage, where the players and spectators are all using their product(s), and the association with a 'cool' sport (believe me, potential sponsors in the UK are MAJORLY keen on being associated with the 'self-regulatory' and 'SOTG' factors of Ultimate). If it works out right, UK Ultimate players may be able to reduce their personal expenses on kit... team sponsors would pay for it!!! It'll never happen? The PepsiMax exhibition days weren't a far cry... Powerade at Rimini... Eastpak at Rimini... Gaia and VC tournament sponsorship (mostly in N.America, but expanding) If we don't present our sport properly (especially at the top end, where the sponsors and public are most likely to notice it!) we'll miss the chance to ever find out. Wrecker PS: I'm aware that my team was one that didn't manage matching kit for all our players. I just don't know why it happened! -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 03 August 2005 16:49 To: britdisc@near.me.uk Subject: Re: [BD] Re: Kit @ Tour events Who wants to be part of a professional sport anyway? As soon as money is associated with winning, spirit will go out of the window and you'll have thugs like Keane playing the game. I'm all for getting more people to play Ultimate, but I think that 'professionalism' is a red herring goal that will wrest control of the game from the players, and be the end of so many aspects of the sport that attracts the people that it does at the moment. It seems to me that Ultimate players enjoy being part of something that is a bit different - we are not the type of people who buy Man United kit and the latest Nike trainers. We are individuals. Long live non-matching kit and faking other team's signatures! Jack __________________________________________________ BritDisc mailing list BritDisc@near.me.uk http://zion.ranulf.net/mailman/listinfo/britdisc Staying informed - http://www.ukultimate.com/informed.asp _________________________________________________________________ Notice of Confidentiality This transmission contains information that may be confidential and that may also be privileged. Unless you are the intended recipient of the message (or authorised to receive it for the intended recipient) you may not copy, forward, or otherwise use it, or disclose it or its contents to anyone else. If you have received this transmission in error please notify us immediately and delete it from your system. Please contact the sender if you have any problems with this email. In the UK, Watson Wyatt Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. _________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ BritDisc mailing list BritDisc@near.me.uk http://zion.ranulf.net/mailman/listinfo/britdisc Staying informed - http://www.ukultimate.com/informed.asp
